Supporters of PSV and Racing Club de Lens clashed in France on Tuesday evening. French police intervened using batons, horses and tear gas. RC Lens and PSV start their match in the group stage of the Champions League at 9 p.m.
PSV is present in Lens with 2,000 supporters. Hundreds of supporters of both clubs are involved in the riots in the city center of Lens. Fireworks were thrown back and forth.
The disturbances started when PSV supporters, accompanied by the police, marched from the city center to the Bollaert-Delelis stadium. That was about two hours before the start of the match. Things went wrong when a group of around 200 PSV fans left the parade leading to the fan zone at the stadium.
At the stadium, supporters sought confrontation with the police, who were pelted with smoke bombs and other objects. The hooligans were escorted by mounted police officers, motorized brigades and police officers in plain clothes.
An hour before the start of the match, peace has returned to Lens. Most PSV supporters are now in the stadium. Nothing is yet known about arrests or injuries.
The PSV Supporters’ Association said in a response on platform
It did not remain completely calm. Some fireworks and chairs also flew back and forth in the stadium. The police quickly arrived on the scene to maintain order. A short empty strip has been created between the section with PSV supporters and those of Lens where police officers monitor everything. Lens supporters in other parts of the stadium showed their dissatisfaction with the behavior of the PSV supporters with loud cheering and whistling.